Qatar Airways has already operated the 747-200 and gotten rid of it, in favor the more efficient A300-600's.
Being that the case, why would they want to operate such a large plane like the A380 when their hub at Doha is smaller than that of Emirates and not too well know. I know they intend on going on head-to-head with Emirates and their Dubai hub, but Emirates was always conservative during their early years of operation and developed Dubai at a fast pace but step by step. Isn't this move such a large bold step for Qatar Airways. It must be a very well funded Oil-subsidized national airline. What do you think?

hi
do you know a single gulf airline that isn't funded by oil money??
I know EK is a fast growing airline but do they need these A380? I'm sure they buy them just to show them off on their most popular routes...I wish I saw their future loads on the A380...not to mention QR loads!!

Many of us in the Middle East are also scrathcing our heads as to what exactly QR are hoping to do with the A380.

A few possibilities:

1) They want to use the Emirates model of success-as you, and many others have suggested. That is, flying people for a beach holiday in the Middle East. Or transfer pax on to other countries. The Qatari Gov't may have a lot of unused agreements up it's sleeves.

Problem is no one has heard of Qatar, let alone QR or Doha. How many of you knew where Qatar was on a map, or what it's capital was? Ok, maybe a few of you who like Geography, but you get the idea. They are going to have to market themselves, and Doha BIG TIME. Have they got the money and resources??

2) They'll configure the A380 to semi-VIP status, with bars, jacuzzi's bla bla-because they can afford to operate it half-empty

3)The decision was a major mistake

4)Political strategies-recognition for Qatar?

5)Exploiting GF's present weakness, to become 2nd to EK in the Gulf region.

Capt.Picard
I'm sure that's the effect EK wants.I watch them work at CDG and they make lots of efforts to be recognized as a major airline and they offer great inflight service and on the ground ..now will that be sufficient to have hi-loads on the A 380? well, I hope so...EK is a great airline
and I love the female crew outfit!

Great points there. I am not very familiar with the region, (I specialize in Latin America ) But that region is very interesting because Emirates makes it so. And now with Qatar Airways striving for Emirates style exellence makes it much more so.

However, It will take Qatar many years to achive Dubai's current status. Emirates can probably fill those A380's to a certain extent on their busiest routes, but I doubt that Qatar Airways can really afford that. To me Qatar's decision is just what you made of it. Political pride for Qatar. Who the hell knows where Qatar is? Well, many people will know now with Qatar's 2
huge propaganda adverstisment machines flying around here and there.

What is there to do and see in Qatar anyway? And who other than Gulf Air, and Emirates fly to Doha? But you know, it might not be such a bad idea. Given the fact that they already concentrate on the Indian sub-continent (with their huge population base and their weak air carriers like PIA and Air India) to Europe market where so many other carriers from small nations have learned to take a small bite (nibble) at the huge pie.

Yet, maybe they could have bought themselves A340-600 or 777-300 which would make more sense than the huge A380. History repeats itself. Many airlines like Air Gabon, Air Madagascar, and Cameroon Airlines to mention a few were early customers for the 747's but do you think they could really fill them up? Nah... Just
the work of some big shot political leaders with big ego's and little brains...

I think this order is just for "image of top airline".
Actually they have no one route where they need a380. For example, their "premier" route DOH-LHR, 9 times per week operated on A300-600. Every time aircraft arriving and departing LHR being half empty.

hi
for your information defunct "Mount Cameroon" (742 combi) was quite often at full loads
I've been working for years at CDG now and UY 742 had known many problems at take-off and landing because it was badly loaded (pax and cargo)...until the final catastrophe
believe me the 747 was needed by UY,and it's about the same for the GN 742 combi which carry lots of machinery in the cargo part (oil fields in Gabon)
but you're right about their mother countries and leaders : strangely GN742's registration begins by F-(the plane is said to belong to french oil company Elf)

Please, just because Cameroon, Madagascar and Gabon are small countries far away from the United States, why should their 747 operations be automatically dismissed as driven by ego, allegedly the work of some big shot political leaders with big ego's and little brains? Surely it is people making judgements like Latinplane who have big egos and little brains. I used to book loads of oil-related business travellers to Gabon and getting seats could be a nightmare. Air France fly 747s to Gabon too.

first of all, 747combi carrying around 230-260 people which is comparable with 757 in 1-class config or, OK, with 767 in 2-class config. It is NOT 747-all-pax.
if some countries have big demand for aircargo - it is another story.
we have the facts: Qatar A300-600 configured with around 260 seats is half empty every time to/from LHR. where they going to get 4 (four) times more pax for this route? then do not forget - it is their "premier" route. they have no other destination outside middle east with daily frequency.

hi
if you know GN (and I believe you do) you must remember the name of the plane " PRESIDENT LEON MBA"...tell me about ego
it's the sole GN large carrier and it is such a piece of machinery with its old style color,I love it